• RITZY ROBLES MALO-OY
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was able to fully deliver the 55,000 family food packs (FFPs) to families in Western Visayas which were affected by last month’s widespread flooding caused by Super Typhoon Goring.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, with Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG) head Assistant Secretary Marlon Alagao, finished the delivery of the food packs to the provinces of Antique, Iloilo, Capiz and Negros Occidental; with the municipalities of San Enrique, Himamaylan City, Valladolid in Negros Occidental; Carles and Pototan in Iloilo; and the municipality of Cuartero, Capiz to receive 1,500 boxes of FFPs each.
The Fourth District of Negros Occidental, which includes the cities of Bago and La Carlota, and the municipalities of Pontevedra, Pulupandan, San Enrique, and Valladolid were severely affected.
The 62nd Battalion of the Philippine Army, led by acting civil-military officer Major Alenel Valles who said that the battalion has provided help to people affected by providing assistance through rescue operations in collaboration with the Local Government Units (LGUs) and Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices.
The unit together with the members of C/MDRRMO were able to rescue local residents trapped in a flood in Barangays Rumirang and Guintubhan, both of the Municipality of Isabela, Brgy. Mabini, Valladolid, and Brgy. Lag-asan, Bago City.
However, despite the assistance being provided by the government, talks of some people taking advantage of the situation, such as supposed repacking the DSWD packs kept on circulating.
A Facebook user who hails from Valladolid town posted a photo of repacked FFP’s distributed to Brgy. Palaka, comparing it with that of Brgy. Paloma to show alleged repacking of DSWD goods.
A warning is indicated outside each DSWD relief supplies package, stating that “repacking of goods from its original DSWD package is a criminal offense under DRRM Act of 2010 and shall be meted with appropriate charges.”
Rona Gepanago, head of the local DSWD, in an interview with the DAILY STAR, explained that the head of the barangay where the alleged repacking happened was already advised and explained that the local official thought the FFPs given were insufficient to accommodate his constituents; which is the reason why they repacked the FFPs.
Gepanago added that orientation prior to the distribution of goods was conducted and emphasized that repacking is not permitted.*YCC/N&CA
